The Sommer Frieze

Pete Abraham reports on the HOF voting. Yankee great Allie Reynolds (who Joe Gordon was traded to Cleveland for) just missed:

Results of the 2008 Pre-1943 Players Ballot (9 needed for election): Gordon (10 votes, 83.3%), Allie Reynolds (8, 66.7%), Wes Ferrell (6, 50.0%), Mickey Vernon (5, 41.7%), Deacon White (5, 41.7%), Bucky Walters (4, 33.3%), Sherry Magee (3, 25.0%), Bill Dahlen, Carl Mays and Vern Stephens: Each less than 3 votes.

Among the Hall of Fame candidates on the post-1942 ballot, former Cubs and White Sox third baseman Ron Santo led all candidates with 39 votes, totaling 60.9 percent of all ballots cast.

Results of the 2008 Post-1942 Players Ballot (48 needed for election): Santo (39 votes, 60.9%), Jim Kaat (38, 59.4%), Tony Oliva (33, 51.6%), Gil Hodges (28, 43.8%), Joe Torre (19, 29.7%), Maury Wills (15, 23.4%), Luis Tiant (13, 20.3%), Vada Pinson (12, 18.8%), Al Oliver (9, 14.1%), Dick Allen (7, 10.9).
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This is bad news for those who believe Gil Hodges should be in. Finishing behind Jim Kaat and Tony Oliva means he’s likely never making it. As for Joe Torre, he did not have a Hall of Fame career as a player. But once he is done managing, he’ll get in swiftly.